Snowstorm Disrupts Turkey with Roads Closed and Deaths

According to the reports on Tuesday (26 November), a massive snowstorm hit Turkey, leading to widespread disruptions across at least 24 provinces. Due to heavy snowfall, transportation was severely affected, and many roads were closed, particularly in the northern, central, and eastern regions. This forced a one-day break in education and brought life in rural areas to a halt.

The storm caused tragic incidents, including the deaths of two shepherds in Mersin and Malatya provinces, and the freezing death of over 350 sheep and two donkeys in Karaman province. Many people, including shepherds and hunters, were trapped in the snow. Emergency teams worked tirelessly to rescue those stranded in the snow, with some being stuck for days.

In addition to rescuing trapped individuals, local authorities accommodated 787 people stranded and rescued in guesthouses. Several others, including five people trapped in vehicles in Giresun and 18 in Bolu, were rescued by municipal teams. In a particularly dramatic incident in Kayseri, a woman who was stranded while attempting to reach the hospital for childbirth gave birth in a military vehicle that came to her aid.

The Turkish State Meteorological Service issued a yellow alert, signaling the potential danger of the ongoing storm. The storm caused immense disruptions, but emergency response teams worked quickly to save lives and assist those affected.

References

• Snowstorm Disrupts Turkey Leaving Roads Closed and Education Suspended